AMA/DMG Adds 15 of the 20 lbs back on the Buell

I agree with you Jumkie, the safety car is BS, it should have been Zemke's race but someone always seems to screw up the fun for everyone else in the AMA don't they. The red flag has been a regular fixture in about every race I have seen over the past few years. Pace car, although not the best thing either is still there for safely clearing the track.

Granted we never see this in MotoGP but the tracks are a lot different and they must feel the risk to keep the race going is worth the chance of whatever carnage could befall a crashed rider or track worker. Yes the end race we got to see on Ralph Sheheen TV (aka AMA prime time) certainly felt contrived but I was still pleased to see some close racing. What more can you ask for but entertainment in a class that you already know is rigged?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Apr 21 2009, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree with you Jumkie, the safety car is BS, it should have been Zemke's race but someone always seems to screw up the fun for everyone else in the AMA don't they. The red flag has been a regular fixture in about every race I have seen over the past few years. Pace car, although not the best thing either is still there for safely clearing the track.

Granted we never see this in MotoGP but the tracks are a lot different and they must feel the risk to keep the race going is worth the chance of whatever carnage could befall a crashed rider or track worker. Yes the end race we got to see on Ralph Sheheen TV (aka AMA prime time) certainly felt contrived but I was still pleased to see some close racing. What more can you ask for but entertainment in a class that you already know is rigged?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Apr 15 2009, 04:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The original rules package was good b/c it was straight forward. I'm sure a horsepower to weight ratio would have been very difficult to police, but in the end the Japanese manufacturers vetoed the arrangement. The 600cc runners thought it would be impossible to keep up with Buell unless they spent tens of thousands on engine modifications.

I think they may have overestimated Buell though. If Buell had competed under the old rules they would have been running a rev-limited version of the 1125R. Twins usually have wide gearing and I think Buell would have suffered greatly from reducing the 1125R's revs. I'm sure they could have lobbied for a different sprocket set, but they still would have been at a disadvantage vs. the I-4s.

The old rules were not shot down to advance Buell's cause. The old rules were shot down b/c the manufacturers were certain Buell would run off with the class.

I think there is a good chance that Edmondson is allowing Buell to beat up on the Japanese manufacturers in order to manipulate fans and manufacturers into ratifying his horsepower limited class.
All this may finally lead to a brand new series paterned after world superbike. The divesity DMG is trying to promote seems one sided and really makes the racing less intresting.